Complete Meltdown - Possible Wedding Cancellation!

[KAT2015]

Kat, how did you block the rooms? Through an agent?  Directly with the resort?  

 

Have you thought about asking if they will honor for the 7 rooms?  I know in the past AMResorts has honored the group rate for 6 rooms.  It is not a guarantee that they will do it and is up to the resorts discretion on whether or not they agree BUT there is no harm in asking.

 

We have done it for our clients.

 

Hi Tammy - we did it through a Travel Agent with WestJet vacations.  So its a flight/room combo right now.  WestJet looks to be fully booked up on flights the date of our travel.  I can ask my TA if they will honour this but WJ's policy says you have to keep it at 10 rooms to qualify.

 

 

Can you switch tour agents to air transat or such? or switch resorts? That's so sh*tty that this is happening to you, you think certain people want to be there for you and then they completely shit the bed on it, which is a disappointing feeling. *hugs*

 

I would try and see if they will honor the pricing. It's worth a try. Or seeing if you can switch resorts or even extend the deadline a bit.

 

I unfortunately can't switch tour companies without a huge price increase for my guests out of Calgary.  Transat and Sunwing are not flying direct to PC next spring, and because they are vacation companies, they do not have connecting flights for us.  So everyone would have to book a flight to Toronto and pay the fee from there - which works out to another 200-300 per person anyhow.

[acw271011]

Oh my goodness I wish I had some really good advice. This is pretty much the exact same thing that happened to us. It started with a couple of people and then just snowballed, and in the end even our MOH and BM backed out because they were afraid of paying more once the group rate was gone. It nearly split FI and I up at the time. I was really upset about the whole thing.

 

In the end it came down to deciding what was really important and FI put his foot down about it all. I know you have besties and all that stuff, family, etc. But ask yourself this. If they were all gung ho, and are now all backing out for whatever reason, and trying to have a baby is more important to them instead of just waiting a little while to be able to attend your wedding, is getting married right now really important to you? You say you wouldn't get married without them - so would you prefer to take a chance that if you cancel for now or postpone, that if you start all over again and re-plan it all will they be there then for it? FI made me realize that what we wanted was to get married in Jamaica and that's what was important. So we just said to heck with everyone and went ahead and got married the way we wanted to. Yes in some ways it hurt that it wasn't as important to everyone else as it was to us but in the end I married the man I love on the beach in a tropical paradise. And that's what counted.

 

I know it's a tough decision..... but it sounds like you need to figure out what you really want. The BFFs or getting married on the beach. And by the way, we booked last minute just the two of us with the help of our TA, and we ended up saving $300 each for the trip so in the end we got the last laugh on everyone.

 

Good luck and I hope it works out how you want it to.

[Mrsktobe]

I was clicking on this to reply but acw above said everything and then some. Very true words. if you aren't able to get the group rate from AM resorts/WestJet, I would sit down with your fiancé and decide what's important. Good luck

[calgarybride2015]

Everyone had great suggestions. Hugs!! I have to agree with acw -- what if you postponed for your girlfriends and they still weren't able to come. That would be uber upsetting. I think I'd sit down with fiancé and figure out what's most important to YOU! And also have your TA speak to WJ about honoring the 7 rooms or anything they could possibly do for you. I just don't understand why people can't secure in now IF they truly want to come and don't want to pay more -- this is the time to secure all those rates, so do it. I feel for you and wish you the best of luck. It's a tough call.

 

 

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[TinkerSofi]

@calgarybride2015 It's so hard to get people to commit! The worst part is that they end up spending the same money on something else anyways. We couldn't understand the same thing, with people saying that they really wanted to come but were too broke right now to pay $150. I would just put it on my credit card, or on a line of credit or something, but I'd want that special rate before it's too late! 

[KAT2015]

Well - thank you all for the feedback.

 

At this time, we've cancelled our block of rooms with WestJet.  We haven't cancelled the wedding just yet, however, any other options available to us are likely a logistical nightmare, could cost more and could have other people committed to coming backing out.  

 

We are about 85% sure that we have to let go of our dream of a destination wedding week with those people who we care about most.  This wasn't about getting married on a beach - it was about the time we could spend with everyone we care about and have a wedding at the same time.

 

So, for now, we are working on identifying and budgeting for options here in Calgary next year.  Its taken me two days of stomach aches and crying to even get to this point! So fingers crossed the worse of it is over and we can move on....

[TinkerSofi]

There are still options here in Calgary. So don't despair! I think the zoo has pretty decent prices and so does the Sheraton on Barlow. My friend who got married at the Sheraton a couple of years back spent $12000 on her wedding and we all had so much fun! The hotel outside is not very pretty but it is inside, the ballroom and the rooms. So just a thought

 

 

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[KAT2015]

There are still options here in Calgary. So don't despair! I think the zoo has pretty decent prices and so does the Sheraton on Barlow. My friend who got married at the Sheraton a couple of years back spent $12000 on her wedding and we all had so much fun! The hotel outside is not very pretty but it is inside, the ballroom and the rooms. So just a thought

 

 

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Yes there are options -  I think we are looking at Heritage Park for the reception and maybe the Bow Valley Canoe Club for the ceremony.

 

Its do-able, just much more work, and more difficult.  You win some, you lose some!

[TinkerSofi]

Yes there are options - I think we are looking at Heritage Park for the reception and maybe the Bow Valley Canoe Club for the ceremony.

 

Its do-able, just much more work, and more difficult. You win some, you lose some!

That's true. But I'm glad that you and your fiancé were able to sit down and come to an agreement about what is important for the both of you. It does suck but the positives of doing it here is that you have more options and less restrictions in a way. You can go and check out things in person . I'm sure everything will turn out great and at least now you know what's going on rather than than being stuck in the limbo

 

 

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[Mrsktobe]

Hey look at it this way. You can always renew your vows on the beach a year later or so with just one another and still have your special time.

 

there are a lot options around the area, the shawnessy barn is a really nice one. We have some venues around Okotoks that are gorgeous too (Saskatoon farm etc) There is also that wedding show next weekend where I am sure you get some inspiration.

 

Maybe you can have a beach themed reception?